Diagnosing Cystic Fibrosis

The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment services for adults.

Diagnosis

Although most adults with CF are diagnosed with the disease as children or teens, some mild cases of CF may not be detected until later in life. At the University of Chicago Cystic Fibrosis Center, we offer a range of tests to diagnose the disease and monitor it over time.

Sweat Testing

Sweat tests measure the amount of salt in sweat and can diagnose CF, as a high salt level confirms that a patient has CF.

Lung Function Tests

Our pulmonary function laboratory provides a full range of tests that measure different aspects of lung function. Some of the tests available for CF patients include:

Spirometry, which measures the volume and speed of air moving out of your lungs